having trouble deciding

[MAK86]

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Hello guys
i am trying to get into a med school in the spring of 08. I only got an interview from nycom and lecom because of my low mcat score. It is 22 however my gpa is good. science is 3.8 and non sc is 3.78.
Lecom denied me and i am still waiting for nycom. I am a ny resident so i don't know maybe they'll accept me scince they appear to prefer instate students. but now i am a little worried and thinking about applying to caribbean schools so that i don't waste time. I am confused and don't know what school should I apply to. I have heard some of the schools in Caribbean look like as if they are like in a thrid world country. I don't want to go to a place like that. Can you guys please give me some feedback on what schools should i apply to and also the only that is not a thrid-world-like place.
My other question is some of the schools like sgu and auc are certified by ny board or something. Does it mean that if you go such schools you won't be considered a forgein graduate?
I really want to get into a DO school but at this point anything can happen because of my sucky mcat score.

 

[liripez]

I don't know to much about schools in the Caribbean, but I know schools in Puerto Rico are just like American schools. They are MD schools. Same applications procedures and same accreditation. But if you really want to go a DO school, you should go for it.

 

[MAK86]

Yes but the problem is that i might not get accepted in the DO schools either.

 

[Top Gun]

Hello guys
i am trying to get into a med school in the spring of 08. I only got an interview from nycom and lecom because of my low mcat score. It is 22 however my gpa is good. science is 3.8 and non sc is 3.78.
Lecom denied me and i am still waiting for nycom. I am a ny resident so i don't know maybe they'll accept me scince they appear to prefer instate students. but now i am a little worried and thinking about applying to caribbean schools so that i don't waste time. I am confused and don't know what school should I apply to. I have heard some of the schools in Caribbean look like as if they are like in a thrid world country. I don't want to go to a place like that. Can you guys please give me some feedback on what schools should i apply to and also the only that is not a thrid-world-like place.
My other question is some of the schools like sgu and auc are certified by ny board or something. Does it mean that if you go such schools you won't be considered a forgein graduate?
I really want to get into a DO school but at this point anything can happen because of my sucky mcat score.

Well, if you don't get into a DO school and decide to apply to the Caribbean, there are four Caribbean schools you should look at first: SGU, Ross, AUC, and Saba. Graduates from these four schools are allowed to practice in all 50 states. AUC happens to be on St. Maarten, which is a really nice island from what I've heard, with plenty of beaches, hotels, shopping, and restaurants, while the other three are basically in third world countries. Grenada, where SGU is, isn't so bad though. They get tourists, so the island isn't as underdeveloped as some other Caribbean islands. To answer your question about NY board certification, SGU is approved by the New York State Department of Education, so students are able to complete clinical rotations in New York City hospitals. The other three, I believe, have clinical rotations in New York City, so I assume the same thing is true about them. As for being considered a foreign graduate, sorry. Once you matriculate into a Caribbean med school and graduate, you are an IMG, even if you're a US citizen. Its one of the downsides of going Caribbean.

The way I see it, you have two options. You could apply to the Caribbean now and probably get in. Then, your med school is taken care of. Or, you can retake your MCAT, and then reapply to DO schools. If you get into a DO school, you will have an advantage over a Caribbean med student when it comes time to apply for residency. Good luck with your decision.

 

[MAK86]

I have heard that SGU is really expensive. Is AUC very very expensive too.

And why is it so hard for Carib. Med school students to find residencies even though they do their clinical rotations in the US.

Are there any other draw backs of going to Carib. med schools?

I am still looking forward to hear from other people what they think about my previous posted question.

Thanks everyone

 

[Osteomania]

Expensive? Have you checked the tuition at the DO schools? Check the websites man, Caribbean medical schools are cheaper than most in state tuitions in the US.

 

[Top Gun]

And why is it so hard for Carib. Med school students to find residencies even though they do their clinical rotations in the US.

Because residency program directors prefer US grads. Residency program directors have a mindset that US grads are more capable than Caribbean grads. This is definitely not always the case, but that is what they think. So, if you go to the Caribbean, you have to work harder and do better than the US grads, just so you can prove to residency directors that you're capable. Fortunately for us, the big 4 schools like SGU, Ross, AUC, and Saba are recognized by residency programs more than other Caribbean med schools. So students in these four schools have less trouble landing residency spots than students from other Caribbean schools.

 

[MAK86]

Ok i'll check the tuition.

Also what does it mean if some school is certified by some US states board?


If someone who went to a school in caribbean can give me a feedback on whether or not they had trouble finding or are having trouble finding residensies in the US that will be nice.

 

[Top Gun]

Ok i'll check the tuition.

Also what does it mean if some school is certified by some US states board?


If someone who went to a school in caribbean can give me a feedback on whether or not they had trouble finding or are having trouble finding residensies in the US that will be nice.

Well, last year I wasn't able to get a residency. I don't think that was the result of attending SGU though. That was because I applied at the last minute and only got a handful of interviews. This year, I reapplied much earlier and ended up with 28 interviews, 14 of them in internal medicine (my first choice) and 14 in family practice (my backup). So this year I'm pretty optimistic about my chances.

 

[oldpro]

I have heard that SGU is really expensive. Is AUC very very expensive too.

And why is it so hard for Carib. Med school students to find residencies even though they do their clinical rotations in the US.

Are there any other draw backs of going to Carib. med schools?

I am still looking forward to hear from other people what they think about my previous posted question.

Thanks everyone

As far as expensive,

SGU most
AUC second
ROSS
SABA

But what amazes me the most,
if you want to be a Doctor and cannot get into a US school why is this even a debate.

 

[GatorsDoc]

Top gun,
I was wondering if you could clarify what "IMG" means...

 

[Top Gun]

Top gun,
I was wondering if you could clarify what "IMG" means...

International medical graduate. Can be either a US citizen who completed medical school abroad or a person from a foreign country who completed medical school in his homeland and came to the US to do residency.

 

[MAK86]

As far as expensive,

SGU most
AUC second
ROSS
SABA

But what amazes me the most,
if you want to be a Doctor and cannot get into a US school why is this even a debate.

It is not definate that I wouldn't go to a school in the US. I am still waiting for nycom's decision. Few other do schools haven't even replied yet. They say that my app is still being reviewed. So i am keeping my fingers crossed hoping that i will get in some where here.

I am asking questions about caribbean just to keep a back up plan.

 

[MAK86]

Did anyone else (caribbean med student) have trouble getting residency of their choice?

 

[futureboy]

As far as expensive,

SGU most
AUC second
ROSS
SABA

But what amazes me the most,
if you want to be a Doctor and cannot get into a US school why is this even a debate.

Oldpro,

I went on all four schools' websites and added up the tuition (& some fees; not cost of living) for each school for all 4 years. It was a bit of a pain -- it would be nice if they would just give a total...

This is what I came up with in rough numbers:

SGU -- $175,000
Ross -- $142,000
AUC -- $121,000
SABA -- $88,000

 

[1nycdoc8]

to the op, definitely check out vmd for questions on carib stuff, I've found SGU's section to have the largest volume of posters, and you can do a search and find an answer to basically any question you have about carib schools and clinical spots, residency, match list, tuition, loans etc. etc. etc.

http://www.valuemd.com/st-georges-university-school-medicine/

your gpa is killer and I'd highly recommend waiting a year if you don't get into a DO school and retaking the MCAT... that's almost a no brainer for me unless you really feel like you can't do better than a 30. If you don't get into a DO school and decide to not wait around and want to apply to the carib definitely apply soon because I think SGU's spots are closing up quick and IMHO I think they're the best school out of the four in terms of facility, resources, clinical spots (they have spent 100 million dollars to reserve the rights to 600 or so spots in the HHC system of hospitals in NYC), reputation and for other reasons as well... however, I am probably going to go there this coming August so take anything I say with a grain of salt...

they do have huge class sizes tho, maybe 400+ this year?? but as long as they have a clinical spot for everyone, I'll be happy.

GL with nycom

 

[oldpro]

Hello guys
i am trying to get into a med school in the spring of 08. I only got an interview from nycom and lecom because of my low mcat score. It is 22 however my gpa is good. science is 3.8 and non sc is 3.78.
Lecom denied me and i am still waiting for nycom. I am a ny resident so i don't know maybe they'll accept me scince they appear to prefer instate students. but now i am a little worried and thinking about applying to caribbean schools so that i don't waste time. I am confused and don't know what school should I apply to. I have heard some of the schools in Caribbean look like as if they are like in a thrid world country. I don't want to go to a place like that. Can you guys please give me some feedback on what schools should i apply to and also the only that is not a thrid-world-like place.
My other question is some of the schools like sgu and auc are certified by ny board or something. Does it mean that if you go such schools you won't be considered a forgein graduate?
I really want to get into a DO school but at this point anything can happen because of my sucky mcat score.

OK heres the really good advice I'm sure you have been given:

DO NOT BE LAZY AND RETAKE THE MCAT!!!!!!!!!

OK the Caribbean No school is certified in the USA only one state approves schools for Licensure and that is California Also once a FMG always a FMG no approval can change that you went to medical school outside the USA.

NY, TX and FL approve schools for Clinicals and TX is like a Fast track for Licensure but Licensure is possible for all IMED and WHO listed schools anywhere in the world in all 49 states, California is the only state that does not License a grad if the school is not on their list.

And that is it.

 

[spreebee]

I have heard that SGU is really expensive. Is AUC very very expensive too.

And why is it so hard for Carib. Med school students to find residencies even though they do their clinical rotations in the US.

Are there any other draw backs of going to Carib. med schools?

I am still looking forward to hear from other people what they think about my previous posted question.

Thanks everyone

I go to AUC....Tuition is about 12000 a semester (cheaper than most schools in the states)... Tuition at St. George's is about 30,000 a semester... There is nothing wrong with the big 4.... You will get a residency from here, most everyone that wants one does...A guy from AUC got a 250 on step 1 and is now doing a NeuroSurgery Residency in Virginia...If you do good on STEP 1 and have good clinical grades you can land about anything you want... Most of the stuff you read on the forumn is rumor mill